The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-08-10
RaPIDES.
The Central Parish of the State.
Cattle and Mule Raising-Railroeds
Projected.


reputation for tho salubrity of its eli.
mate, the fertility of its soil and the
intelligence and public spirit Gifts cit
liens; its surface presenting a great
variety of soils, every crop grown in
the State has been successfully cult
waited on its lands. In the prosperous
days Of ante belum times, some of the
most extensive and highly improved
plantations in the State were found
here, and nowhere in our great South
land were there evidences of greater
material prosperity, Of refinement and
culture among the inhabitants, than
were met with on all sides in this ia
vored Parish. It's productions at that
time were upward of $4,000 bales OF
cotton, 10000 hogsheads of sugar and
q proportional amount of corn and 9TH
er farm products. In no other section
of the South did the disasters of war
fall more heavily but, notwithstand-
ing these great losses, the enterprise Of
its citizens, aided by the advantages of
a generous soil and genial climate, has
again placed the Parish in the front
rank for value Of its products, both Of
soil and climate.
The area of the Parish is little
less than 1900 square miles, of which
nearly two-thirds are pine lands, near
ly one-third alluvial or Red river bot
tom lands, and the remainder oak up
lands. About 10000 acres are in cul-
tivation, of which $4,000 acres, produ-
cling $4,000 bales, are in cotton, So
600 acres in corn, producing 100000
bushels, 5000 in cane, producing 1000
hogsheads of sugar.
The alluvial or bottom lands are of
unsurpassed fertility and comprise full
ly three fonrihs Of the cultivated area
of the Parish. When fresh and under
fair cultivation these lands will pro-
duce from 1900 to $500 pounds of seed
cotton and from DO to GO bushels of
corn per acre. In the pine uplands
there are numerous and extensive
tracts, known as creek bottom lands,
cultivated by small farmers, which are
found to be productive and yield with
out fertilizer, in fair seasons, 20 bush
els of corn and one-half bale of cotton
per acre. Oats, potatoes and tobacco
are also grown very successfully and
when combined with the products Of
the garden and orchard and the raising
of stock make this most desirable sec,
ton for the small farmer.
In the alluvial section improved
lands are worth from $40 to $50 per
acre, according to the character of the
improvements, and when it is consid-
cred that these lands, under fair cul-
ture, will annually produce crops worth
from $50 to $50 per acre, it must be
admitted that their true value is much
greater When rented in small lots,
the usual price paid for these lands
ranges from IS to So per acre, Swamp
land in the rear of the cultivated tracts
covered with magnificent growth of
oak, elm, gum, ash, cypress and other
forest trees, arc valued at from So. so
to s. per acre. In the hills, improved
tracts of creek bottom are worth from
IS to SO per acre. Pine timbcrcd
lands ale worth from 81 to IS per
acre.
Efforts in the way of stock raising
have up to this time been principally
confined to the uplands or pine hills,
and here this important industry has
been conducted only in the most prim-
tive way aud without reliance upon
improved breeds, Or without provision
OF food and shelter during the winter
months. Still, so extensive and ex-
cellent is the range, and so light is the
loss from exposure in winter, that sue
cessful results have been obtained in
many instances, even under this crude
system. Upon the lowlands more at
tention is being paid each year to the
subject. Permanent pastures are be-
ing set aside, meadows are being lev
eled and set or sown with grasses suit
able for hay, and sheds and barns
erected, where the cattle can he fed
and protected during the winter season.
Improved breeds are being introduced,
and in one instance there is a herd of
Holsteins that will compare favorably
with the best of the North and.West.
Some attention is also being given to
ml tc- raisinU opd II hoo boo,